Curry fixing for role on unbroken 'Today'

Goodbye, and hello.

Meredith Vieira wraps five years as "Today's" co-anchor Wednesday morning, while Ann Curry steps into one of TV's most prestigious and visible roles Thursday. Two different people, two different styles. What to expect from this already very familiar face -- the NBC morning show's news anchor since 1997?

NBC may be hoping viewers will hardly even notice this transition, so familiar is the new face. But this is TV's most intimate franchise, which can be both a blessing and a curse. Viewers notice everything, and that's a reason NBC is believed to have recently extended Matt Lauer's contract beyond 2012 (it was to have ended late next year).

Meanwhile, Vieira leaves as she began -- without flash or fanfare, which also speaks to her uniformly excellent tenure. She stepped into this role and almost instantly erased the memory of her predecessor, Katie Couric.

Enter Curry, 54, who understands the beat, rhythm and demands of "Today" as well as anyone alive. That Curry -- who has worked hard to build her news chops and remains co-anchor of "Dateline" -- deserves this gig goes almost without saying. But television, like life, isn't always about just deserts. Her challenge now will be to make viewers forget about her predecessor, and with a stiffening challenge from "Good Morning America," that won't be nearly as easy as it may look.

I spoke with Curry a few days ago. Some brief nuggets from our chat:

Let's start with the old "how do you feel" question. How do you feel?

I feel incredibly comfortable, and on the other hand, I'm scared to death, [but the show] is definitely something that's not broken, so there's no fixing to be done.

You're stepping from the news desk to one of the most multidimensional roles on TV -- not to mention Matt Lauer's co-host. How do you see the balancing act?

I'm going to become the one on whom Matt pulls most of his pranks, and I'll say, 'Honey, bring it on.' I know in this role, part of it is being probably the focus of some of his teasing, and I'm going to dish it right back.

What will be your relationship be with Matt?

I'm the younger sister. The much, much younger sister. . . . We know each other after 14 years. We have a history together, and it's really comfortable.

Any lingering resentment that you weren't handed the job five years ago?

Had I wished they had asked me to take the job? I would have liked that, of course. But I'm not the alpha female. I'm completely about what's best for the team. . . . For me, it's always about what is my mission and what are my priorities, which is being on 'Today' and doing the kind of work I do. I just got lucky this time.

Some reports said you would have left if you didn't get this. True?

No, absolutely not. It was -- if I didn't get the job and I wasn't happy or didn't feel comfortable with the person they chose, then they would give me an opportunity to leave. My agent said you should put this in, and it was done years ago as a protection . . . leaving after 14 years was unfathomable to me.